About the Club

The Club's primary aim is to promote the interests of Canada and the Canadian Community here in Sydney. The Canadian Australian Club provides Canadians who are new to Australia a local connection back to Canada as well as networking opportunities to meet others in similar circumstances. We offer a little bit of Canada right here in Sydney through social events, activities and networking activities designed to promote the camaraderie and friendship among those who have interests in both countries.

Members will find this website packed with information about upcoming events, photos and highlights from past events, news and general interest stories about Canada and Canada’s involvement in both the Australian and world scenes. Take some time to review it, contribute to it and suggest content that you'd like to see added.

Throughout the year, the club organizes a growing range of activities - sporting events, restaurant nights, wine nights, theatre outings, book clubs, monthly mixers and the occasional fund raiser. We celebrate special occasions like Canada Day, Thanksgiving, Halloween and Christmas and are always looking for fresh event ideas to add to the mix.

A Short History

In the early 1960's, two predominant groups of Canadians were present in Sydney - Canadian businessmen, who would meet regularly for lunch, and The Canadian War Brides who lived mainly on the North Shore who met regularly in each others homes. Businessman Ed Finsten and the then Trade Commissioner, Harry Horne, began efforts to bring these two groups together. At the same time, younger groups of Canadians, mostly travelers, had already started meeting at the Hyde Park Hotel. In 1967, the year of the Canadian Centenary, a ball was held at the Hotel Australia with the High Commissioner as a guest of Honour and this was the event that brought these Canadian compatriots together.

The Canadian Australian Club was formally registered with the State Government of New South Wales in 1967, the year of Canada’s Centenary. In its early days, the club was affiliated with the Aquatic Club in Sydney and many functions were held there. When the Aquatic Club closed, the Canadian Club had to look elsewhere to hold its meetings. This led to affiliations with numerous other clubs throughout the metropolitan area of Sydney - including the Air Force Club, City Tattersalls, and the Journalist's Club.

In 1989, the Canadian Australian Club became an incorporated body and has stood on its own now for twenty years.